Gemalto, the world specialist in digital security, has introduced the Coesys Border and Visa Management solution to meet the combined needs of securing borders and simplifying travel procedures. The end-to-end solution integrates high-availability service platforms, secure software and on-site services to significantly reduce waiting times through the use of automated document verification and border control at land, sea and airport check points. The solution will especially aid in high volumes of airport traffic-predicted to increase- around the world. The Middle East is no exception. Over the next few years the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will attract tens of thousands of tourists with the upcoming Expo 2020 in the United Arab Emirates and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. As the influx of visitors increases each year in the GCC, Gemalto’s visa and border management technology will enable government authorities to implement an electronically connected system for easy deployment of immigration policies.

This new, entirely computerized system enhances security and provides a more efficient set of tools to monitor border entries and exits. It also delivers higher rates of detection and prevention through official international databases to check if the travel document has been lost or stolen. Coesys Border and Visa Management can easily incorporate automated e-gates at border immigration check points. These highly secure, two-stage traveler verification systems first verify that the e-passport is authentic and then performs facial or fingerprint recognition to match the holder to the electronic data securely stored on the e-passport.

According to Airports Council International, Dubai currently ranks as the second busiest airport in the world and the busiest in the Middle East, with passengers increasing from 60 million to 75 million per annum. In January 2014 passenger traffic reached 6,400,706, up 15.1% from 5,559,760 recorded during the same month in 2013. The increase in passengers is not just confined to the UAE; Qatar estimates that the 2022 FIFA World Cup will attract at least one million visitors to the country.

“We have reached a point where the sheer volume of passenger traffic is increasing at a rapid pace throughout the GCC,” said Hisham Surakhi, Managing Director, Gemalto Middle East. “This increase is forcing airport management to look at alternative solutions to deal with the influx of passengers.”

“Gemalto’s solution is timeous and comes to the region when governments and airport authorities need to fast track travelers through international airport with limited hassle and zero compromise on security.”

In addition to a dedicated platform for border control, Gemalto’s portfolio includes consultancy, solution design, system integration and full support for the transition from legacy systems to integrated border management infrastructures. Coesys Border & Visa Management leverages Gemalto’s unique global footprint and long-standing trusted relationships with government and authorities worldwide, acquired through more than 80 successful deployments in the public sector.

“This new solution capitalizes on Gemalto’s security expertise and the hundreds of millions of electronic travel documents with the associated services that we have deployed so far,” said Frédéric Trojani, Executive Vice President, Government Programs at Gemalto. “With air passengers traffic expected to double by 2030 and 53% of all passports issued forecast to embed the electronic feature in 2017, Coesys Border and Visa Management comes about just when governments need to fast track travelers through major international airports, with no compromise on security.”